WTNs: Italian at Scarpetta

Dinner at Scarpetta, NYC.

I started with terrific primi of Polenta with Truffled Mushrooms – and before this dinner, I hated polenta. Then, my simple pasta dish of Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil was close to amazing. Marina’s Farfalle with Sweetbreads didn’t disappoint, either. Suffice it to say that there were no duds in any of our dishes. Even the assorted breads in the basket, and the accompanying dips and ricotta butter, were heavenly. I’d consider Scarpetta to easily rank amongst the top of the local Italian restaurants that I’ve been to.

With the very good food, I wasn’t really concentrating much on writing wine notes, but still managed to tap a few keys into my iPhone.

The wines were all ordered in the restaurant:

2004 J. Hoffstater “Berthenau”, Trentino
A chardonnay/pinot blanco blend. This was clean, fresh, medium-bodied wine with a nice level of ripeness. Slightly rustic. Melon notes with the last pour from the carafe. B+

2007 Azienda Agricole Cos “Cerasulo di Vittoria Classico”, Sicily
Recommended by the sommelier, as Marina wanted something light and fruity. This was an interesting bottle, as it resembled one of those old, large medicine bottle. It was short, fat and somewhat stumpy. Bacon fat and dry earth on the nose, the wine showed acidity coming from layers of cherries, raspberries and even grapefruit. Almost Beaujolais-like in taste and lightness. B

2004 Goretti Sagrantino di Montefalco “Le Mura Saracene”, Umbria
I figured that the Cos will not be able to match up well with my next course, the excellent Duck Breast with Sicilian Spice, and so I ordered a carafe of the Sagrantino. This wine definitely stood up to, and matched up well with, the entrée. The wine smelled of meat, with that Umbrian countryside aroma of earth, flowers and agriculture. Seriously tannic, grip, very big, black fruit, chewy. Quite modern. Needs bold-flavored and hearty food. I see that it’s currently going for under $30 in winesearcher and given that, I’m in the market for it. B++

Ramon

I love Scarpetta and it is one of the few restaurants that I am happy to order off their wine list. Is that mushroom dish served in a copper pot? Scott Conant did something like that at Convivio.

you hated polenta but ordered it?
Restaurant sounds great. May add the Goretti to next Astor order. Thanks for notes!

I love Scarpetta and it is one of the few restaurants that I am happy to order off their wine list. Is that mushroom dish served in a copper pot? Scott Conant did something like that at Convivio.

I suppose you meant L’Impero (which is now Convivio). Yes, Scott Conant’s mushroom dish presentation in Scarpetta is similar to the one in the old L’Impero, but this time he uses a small steel pot alongside the bowl of Polenta.

I liked the breadth of wines in Scarpetta at all price points. I was glad to have engaged the helpful sommelier, as he offered options that were not on the list. The Goretti SdM was not on the list and he willingly opened a bottle so that I can order a quartino.

you hated polenta but ordered it?
Restaurant sounds great. May add the Goretti to next Astor order. Thanks for notes!

I actually had the chef’s version of the polenta at his old restaurant L’Impero. While I remember it being good then, it didn’t make me a convert … to Polenta. I’m still not a convert and I don’t think I’ll order it anywhere else, except at Scarpetta. It’s that good. Btw, I know that you liked Convivio, which we like too, but this restaurant is very much worth a try.

Yes, I thought that Goretti was a good food wine. I also think that it would even be better with a few years of cellaring.

I suppose you meant L’Impero (which is now Convivio). Yes, Scott Conant’s mushroom dish presentation in Scarpetta is similar to the one in the old L’Impero, but this time he uses a small steel pot alongside the bowl of Polenta.

I liked the breadth of wines in Scarpetta at all price points. I was glad to have engaged the helpful sommelier, as he offered options that were not on the list. The Goretti SdM was not on the list and he willingly opened a bottle so that I can order a quartino.

Yes, of course, it was L'Impero then, and I'm trying to remember if Michael White has kept it on the menu. It's a dish that Joel has always orders, but it has been well over a year since we were last there. The other dish he always orders is the pasta with tomatoes and basil. The first time was shortly after L'Impero opened, and we were there in December. I thought he was nuts to order a dish that screamed summer, but one taste showed me I should keep my thoughts to myself.

While I love both Convivio and Scarpetta, it is the overall casual, but professional, feel at Scarpetta that makes it a front runner for me.

Nice move by the sommelier and thanks for the reminder that I need to return.